Fresh off the workbench. Meng's superb rendition of a Whippet Mk.A. I initially started to build both the Meng and Takom models as a comparison but ended up bailing on the Takom kit as I found it to be very poor.
I did make some alterations to the kit using brass tube and styrene to improve some details and scratchbuilt stowage boxes as these are not included in the Meng kit. The Takom tracks are better so I used them with the Takom drive sprockets and I also utilised the Freikorps decals from Takom too. Vehicle is painted with acrylics and weathered with oils and Mig/Ammo weathering products (washes, pigments etc).
Figure is from Stalingrad and beautifully cast in resin. Painted with acrylics and oils - brings a sense of 'life' to the finished product. Hope you like it....
Further images can be found here - http://plasticarmour.com/whippet-freikorps.html
Build blog here - http://plasticarmour.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1351
@Alpha Six: Do you have pictures to proof the camouflage? I own 2 pics and it seems no camo.
Of course )))
And take you attention - Tank 53 can not be armed with Hotchkiss MG - shape of hole in MG mount says about this. Possible this tank was not armed during Freikor service.
Also this tank haven't metal angle canvas band attachments and rear wooden crates.
-- Edited by Alpha Six on Sunday 28th of May 2017 08:48:29 PM
The color of this vehicle was discussed several times in various forums. Usually they came to the conclusion that it must be some sort of grey, simply because it is a Freikorps vehicle ?!
Here another close view of one of the details, Denis pointed out. Indeed, A 220 must have been camouflaged, although the colors had been largely faded.
So it's important to me to emphasize that it's a great piece of work. And your weathering looks very convincing!
Cheers,
Peter
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"Siplicity is the ultimate sophistication" -Leonardo Da Vinci-
I forgot to mention that the question whether "53" had the attachments for the rear wooden crates or not depends on the date and place that the picture was taken.
Earlier in his Freikorps career the vehicle still had these attachements. Here you can see it in the backyard of the Neukölln town house.
On its way to the final shooting location in front of the Hotel Eden, "53" hasn't those attachemts indeed. Here it is in the Leipziger Strasse in front of the Kaufhaus Wertheim.
You inevitably wonder where those parts remained ... Unfortunately nothing is known about the units diaries.
Cheers
Peter T
__________________
"Siplicity is the ultimate sophistication" -Leonardo Da Vinci-
It is not a German "improvement" as I found that also some Whippets in British service had them. I added them to one of my builds (an easy thing to do with some evergreen plastic and some nuts and bolts from Meng). Here is aone of those pictures where I saw the extra brackets.
And don't forget that the brackets are also on the inside!
Maybe someone knows the purpose of those brackets.
Didn't think they were added post war as I did see photos on Google of them fitted to Brtish vehicles. Still think they are acting as strengthening ribs?
Nice work on your Whippet. Are you going to sort out the poorly moulded nuts on the roadwheel brackets?
Did this on mine and also on the Tadpole (above pic) I'm currently working on. The Nut & Bolt sets from Meng come in very handy!
Gary
-- Edited by NGBZ on Saturday 3rd of June 2017 10:25:58 AM
Didn't think they were added post war as I did see photos on Google of them fitted to Brtish vehicles. Still think they are acting as strengthening ribs?
Nice work on your Whippet. Are you going to sort out the poorly moulded nuts on the roadwheel brackets?
Hello Gary,
I still think that they were strengthening ribs. At the later/other (?) models they were for some reason not necessary anymore ..... maybe later on there was some "internal" strenghtening of the sides?
Thanks for your kind words about my build! Much appreciated.
I have not altered the nuts on the roadwheel brackets. I am a bit lazy about that detail, for I think there will be a lot of mud on those places when I come to painting and weathering the model. But that is something that is some issue with me, I build a lot and when (almost) finished, the step to painting and weathering is delayed .... for another build. There is a load of models waiting for the paintjob.
But seeing how you finished your model ....... maybe I should give it a try one day Great work!
This is same Whippet in German service. German Cross on the right board is overpainted by retoucher or possible this is overpainted inscription about capturer unit (2nd Armee).
Willem Visser wrote:
Here is aone of those pictures where I saw the extra brackets.
-- Edited by Alpha Six on Sunday 4th of June 2017 11:19:23 AM
Unfortunately for me, I JUST found this rather old discussion of the Freikorps Whippet, and some of the picture links are broken. I don't suppose anyone downloaded them for personal use and would be willing to send them on? I'm very interested in building this Whippet, but I want to do it right. My 1/72 kit was done in grey, but now that I find out it is probably not right, I want more info before I start it in 1/35. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Great work!
